Vehicle for underground installation of flexible utility lines and the like

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled vehicle for underground installation of flexible utility lines or the like wherein a vibrating, vertical plow cuts a slit in the earth and simultaneously lays the cable therein and covers the buried cable in one pass. The vehicle is of articulated frame construction having a front tractive power unit and a rear cable carrier pivotally attached to the front unit. A vibrating plow assembly is also pivotally attached to the front power unit and is located between the front unit and the carrier for independent vertical and lateral movement thereto.

United States Patent 1 Erickson et al.

[ July 24,1973

VEHICLE FOR UNDERGROUND- INSTALLATION OF FLEXIBLE UTILITY LINES AND THE LIKE Inventors: Robert W. Erickson, John F.

Lindell, both of Newton, lowa Assignee: Koehring Company, Milwaukee,

Wis.

Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 Appl. No.: 236,093

U.S. Cl.- 61/72.6, 172/40 Int. Cl E02f 5/00, F161 1/00 Field of Search 6l/72.6, 72.1, 72.5,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Kinnan 61/72.6 Kelley 61/72.6

3,486,344 12/1969 Ylinen 61/72.6 3,307,363 3/1967 Kinnan..... 3,546,887 12/1970 l-lelmus.... 3,394,554 7/1968 Kinnan 6l/72.6

Primary Examiner-Jacob Shapiro Attorney-Andrew J. Beck et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A self-propelled vehicle for underground installation of flexible utility lines or the like wherein a vibrating, vertical plow cuts a slit in the earth and simultaneously lays the cable therein and covers the buried cable in one pass. The vehicle is of articulated frame construction having a front tractive power unit and a rear cable carrier pivotally attached to the front unit. A vibrating plow assembly is also pivotally attached to the front power unit and is located between the front unit and the carrier for independent vertical and lateral movement thereto.

14 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU JUL 24m SHEET 2 BF 5 PAIENIEBJummn snztvu urs PAIENIED JUL24|975 SHEET 5 OF 5 mum-Iii VEHICLE FOR UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION OF FLEXIBLE UTILITY LINES AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains generally to earth working vehicles of the type adapted to continuously lay flexible pipe, cable, or other utility lines and the like beneath the ground. Prior art devices of this general character have been proposed and used with a certain amount of success, but have also had certain shortcomings. For example, some of these prior art devices were not sufficiently manueverable to permit the vibratory plow to reach laterally away from the tractive vehicle alongside the right-of-way, nor could these prior art vibrating plows commence a line burying operation directly away from a power pole or pedestal. These prior art devices were also not sufficiently manueverable in that they were largely confined to straight runs and large radius curves and could not plow small radius curves such as substantial right angles or follow irregular lot lines and easements.

Another shortcoming of the prior art devices was that they caused the flexible cable to be bent severely or in an opposite direction from that which the cable was curved about its reel, and furthermore, these prior devices required intervening cable guides of one type or another in conducting the cable from the storage reel into the chute of the vibratory plow. These shortcomings resulted in excessive handling of the cable and damage thereto.

Still another shortcoming of prior art apparatus of this general type was that it was difficult to pick up and load or unload the reels of cables and to do so often necessitated at least partial disassembly of the machine or excessive labor.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention provides a self-propelled vehicle having an articulated frame comprising a front tractive power unit to which is pivotally attached a rear cable carrier. A plow assembly includes a boom which is swingably pivoted at its front end to the power unit and which assembly has a plow carried on the rear end of the swingable boom. Thisplow is substantially center mounted,'fore and aft, between the wheels of the front unit and the wheels of the rear cable carrier. The entire assembly can be raised and lowered hydraulically and g has a vertical lost motion connection with the power unit. The plow assembly also includes a vertical plow blade to which isattache'd a shaker device for providing vertical vibration-to the plow blade to facilitate its cutting through the earth as the vehicle'moves along. The arrangement is such that the plow assembly is not only free to rise and fall independently of the front tractive unit and the rear cable carrier, but it is also steered in a transverse direction relative to the tractive unit and carrier so as to be able to bury the cable alongside the tractive unit or commence a line burying operation directly away from a power pole or the like.

Another aspect of the invention relates to theme] carrier wherein multiple reels of cable can be carried thereon and can be readily loaded directly from the ground or other transport vehicle and can also be easily unloaded from the cable carrier.

The general arrangement of the cable laying vehicle is such that the cable reels are carried between the rear wheels of the cable carrier and with the weight of the reels concentrated thereon thereby minimizing the weight transfer on the front tractive power unit. The plow assembly can be steered independently of all other functions of the vehicle for maximum maneuverability in placing the cable. Furthermore, the plow assembly can be lifted clear of the ground in any of its lateral positions, due to the high arch construction of the cable carrier.

Another and important aspect of the invention relates to the mounting and positioning of the cable reels so that the cable is fed from the reels directly into the underground plow and without bending the cable, the cable being fed directly.from the reel and in a substantially straight line into the ground, thereby minimizing cable damage and excessive handling. This is particularly desirable in the installation of large diameter cables or those of the plastic pipe type.

The vehicle provided by the present invention permits the operator to have maximum visibility andcontrol of the entire operation, and a relatively inexperienced operation can rather quickly learn to operate the vehicle with safety. The plow assembly can be steered independently of the tractive vehicle and is generally in a towed relationship to the tractive vehicle and conse quently, can be steered in a more conventional manner which is natural to the inexperienced operator.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cable laying vehicle made in accordance with the present invention, certain parts shown as broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective, andexploded view of a portion of the plow assembly and including the plow boom and its attaching parts to the front tractive power unit;

FIG. 4 is a reduced, rear view of a portion of the cable carrier;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the vehicle aswhen performing a substantially right angle burying operation;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the vehicle as when laying cable alongside the main path of the vehicle;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the vehicle as when commencing a cable laying operation directly from a power pole or the like;

FIG. 8 is a-schematic, vertical section through the cable after it has been laid and showing the tamping operating which restores the earth substantially to its previous condition;

FIG. 9 is a schematic elevational view of the reel carrier as when used in connection with handling a reel on a transport truck; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but showing the carrier as when handling a reel located on the ground;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the reel frame as shown in FIG. 1, with a part broken away for clarity;

FIG. 12 is a rear elevational view of the frame of FIG. 1 1;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, side elevational view of the pick-up block and chain device shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is a rear elevational view of the block and chain shown in FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT General The self-propelled, cable laying vehicle provided by the present invention is adapted to continuously lay flexible cable, pipe, and utility lines or the like, and throughout this description, for the sake of convenience, reference will be made to the invention as used in connection with laying cable.

The vehicle is of the articulated frame type having a front tractive power unit 1, a rear cable carrier 2, and a plow assembly 3 located therebetween. The entire vehicle is adapted to travel over the ground and continuously form a slit in the ground into which the cable is introduced and then the slit is covered and the earth tamped into its substantially original condition. The present apparatus can lay various types of flexible members at various depths in the ground, and the arrangement is such that the depth to which the flexible member is laid is substantially constant regardless of undulation of the ground.

Tractive Power Unit More specifically, the front power unit includes a pair of large traction, steerable wheels 4 and 5 which are driven from the power plant, such as an internal combustion engine 6, and through a power train which may be comprised of individual piston motors and planatary and reduction units (not shown). The functions of the vehicle may be sufficiently powered by fixed displacement hydraulic pumps (not shown). It is believed sufficient to say for purposes of this disclosure that the tractive power unit is steerable by the operator by means of the steering wheel 8.

Reel Carrier The cable reel carrier 2 includes a rearwardly extending frame (FIG. 1) having a forward portion 11 that arches upwardly and rearwardly away from the tractive vehicle to which it is attached. Portion 11 is pivoted to the tractive vehicle about the vertical pivot pin lla which is located just to the rear of the axle 13 of the tractive wheels 4 and 5, as viewed in plan in FIG. 2. The carrier frame also includes a bifurcated end portion 12 having a transverse member 13 to which the frame member 11 is rigidly attached and also having a pair of laterally spaced and rearwardly and downwardly extending legs 14 and 15 on which are rotatably journalled the rear wheels 16 and 17, respectively. Thus, the frame portions 11 and 12 constitute an arch-like frame which extends upwardly over the space between the tractive vehicle wheels and the rear carrier wheels, and no axle extends between wheels 16 and 17. With this construction, the cable can be removed from the blade and out through the rear of the machine without cutting.

The carrier also includes a pair of laterally spaced reel frame members 20 and 21 which are pivoted at 22 at their rear ends to the frame legs 14 and 15 of the carrier and which legs are connected together at their upper ends by the transverse tubular member 23. Thus the reel frame can be swung from an operative, upper position shown in FIG. 1 to any one of the loading and unloading positions shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The carrier frame includes a series of recesses 25 in which any number of cable carrying reels 26 may be rotatably mounted. Thus, if a plurality of utility lines are to be installed in the same installation, several reels of these lines may be carried and installed simultaneously.

Additional reels 27 may be mounted on the frame member 20 and 21 as follows. A bracket 28 is fixed to the lower end of each of the reel frame members 20 and 21 and these brackets each have a pair of holes 28a, 28b in which arms 29a and 29b, respectively, are mounted. Flexible members, such as chains 27a and 27b are then connected between the arms 29a and 28b, and between arms 29b and the reel frame, respectively.

The reel carrier frame is swung from one position to the other by the double acting hydraulic cylinder means 30 attached between the carrier frame and the reel frame and under the control of the operator from the tractive unit. These cylinder means hold the reel frame 20, 21 in the operating position shown in FIG. 1.

The entire carrier 10 may be moved laterally from one side or the other relative to the tractive unit by means of the pairs of double acting hydraulic cylinders 32 and 33, which are pivotally connected between the carrier frame 10 and the tractive power unit 1.

Means are provided to insure easy attachment, lifting and loading of the reels on the reel carrier in the event the reels are setting on uneven ground. This means includes lift blocks 40(FIG. 11) having a large aperture 41 by means of which a block is slipped on each end of the reel shaft. Chains 42 are fixed at one end to the blocks, and a tubular member 43 is fixed at the other end of the chains.

When the reel frame is swung to a lower, reel loading position (FIG. 10), the lift blocks can be installed in any one of the five positions of the reel frame indicated in FIG. 1 l and up to three of these positions may be utilized at one time. That is to say, after the blocks have been slipped on the reel shaft, the blocks are located in the channels 44 of the members 20 and 21, and tubular member 43 is held captive by pin means 45, extending through aligned holes 46 in the channels 44. Safety hold down pins 47 and 48 also extend through the channel and across the block to hold the block captive in the channels. The pin means 47, 48 are installed after the reels are lifted and the reel frame is pivoted back into position. Thus, as the reel carrier pivots back into operating position, the chains in the lift blocks suspend the reel shaft and allow it to fall into the proper operating position on the carrier.

I boom 50 which is pivotally attached about a vertical pin 51 at its forward end to a subframe 52 pivotally mounted by pins 52a to the tractive unit. A vibratory plow 53 extends downwardly from a plow frame 54 which is pivotally attached by a vertical pin 55 to the rear end of the boom 50. A plow blade shaker 57 of conventional character is also carried on the plow frame 54 and acts to impart a purely vertical vibration to the vertical plow blade 56, thereby facilitating the cutting action of the blade as the vehicle moves over the ground. This hydraulically driven shaker is conventional and it is believed sufficient to say that it incorporates a pair of counter-rotating eccentric weight for producing longitudinal vibration to the vertical blade 56.

The boom is laterally positioned under power, and relative to the tractive unit, by means of the pair of double acting hydraulic cylinder units 58 and 59 attached between either side of the boom and the tractive vehicle as at 60, 61, respectively. The cylinders 58 and 59 are connected to the subframe 52 by a vertical lost motion connection to thereby permit the boom 50 to pivot about the transverse, horizontal axis formed by the mounting pins 52a as the vehicle moves over the ground. More specifically, this lost motion connection includes a pair of slotted members 63 attached to the rear ends of the piston rods 64 of the pair of double acting fluid power cylinder units 65, and pins 66 fixed on the upper end of their arms 66a which are also pivoted at 52a and are adapted to ride in the slot 63. In this manner, the complete boom assembly is free to rise and fall about the bottom pivot pin 52a while the vehicle is in operation. When the entire plow assembly is to be elevated by the cylinder units 65, the latter are contacted, thereby causing the pins 66 to bear against the rear end of the slots in arms 63, and further cylinder contraction then causes elevation of the plow assembly.

The plow frame and plow are also adapted to be steered independently of the tractive unit by means of the double acting hydraulic cylinder unit 68 which is pivotally attached at 67 to and intermediate the length of the boom, and is also attached to the plow frame 54 as at 69.

With the above construction, the boom can be transversely swung to either side of the vehicle or to any position in between, and the plow itself can also be steered independently.

Tamper Means Means are provided for closing the slit formed by the plow and restoring the surface of the earth, so as to complete the cable burying operation as the vehicle is moved along. This is accomplished by the pair of ground wheels 70, 71 which are journalled on the tamping wheel frame 73. The tamping wheel frame 73 is pivoted at its front end by a horizontal pin 74 to the plow frame 54-. Means are provided for vertically adjusting the tamping wheels to thereby vary the operating depth of the plow and this means includes the double acting hydraulic cylinder unit 77 and 78 which are connectedbetween the rear end of the tamping wheel frame, as at 79, and the plow frame, as at 80. The front unit can also be steered by the boom swing cylinders 58 if the cylinder means 32, 33 are placed in a float posillOl'l.

Resume It will be noted that the general arrangement is such that the plow assembly is located directly ahead and generally beneath the cable reels and the latter are rotated in the direction of the curvilinear arrows, as shown in FIG. 1, while in operation. This serves to feed the cable C without bending and in a generally downward and forward direction and tangentially from the reel and directly into the plow, and not requiring any intervening cable guides. This is particularly important in large diameter cables or plastic pipe and the like, and the improved arrangement has eliminated damage to the cable that previously occurred due-to such bending or guiding.

The reels can be conveniently loaded and removed from the bifurcated rear end of the cable carrier and the rear frame can be swung to pick up the reels and load them directly onto the carrier frame.

The cable laying vehicle provided by the present invention includes an articulated frame including a front tractive unit to which is pivotally attached the rear cable carrier which can swing transversely relative to the power unit. The cable carrier is of high arch construction which passes over the intervening plow assembly located between the wheels of the cable carrier and the wheels of the power unit.

The plow assembly is swingable transversely and furthermore the the plow itself is steerable relative to its boom to thereby provide'steering of the plow blade for good manueverability. As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle provided by the present invention permits the plow to follow a substantially right angle path while the vehicle itself swings in a generally wider arc 91. This is particularly important where the cable must be laid in a short curve and along irregular lot lines and easements. As shown in FIG. 7, the plow assembly 3 can be located directly against the power pole and the cable laying operation starting directly from the pole. This is accomplished by first laterally swinging the cable carrier 10 to one side of the pole and backing the individually swingable plow assembly directly against the pole. As shown in FIG. 6, the plow assembly is capable of continuously laying cable along either side of the general path of movement of the power unit and its trailing cable carrier.

The plow assembly can be adjusted asto its cutting depth by means of the hydraulically actuated tamping wheel assembly which furthermore acts to restore the earth to its substantially original condition. The entire plow assembly can be bodily raised by its power cylinder, lost motion connection to the power unit, but while in operation the plow assembly is free to rise and fall relative to the power unit.

We claim:

1. A cable laying vehicle for laying a flexible member underground and comprising,

a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a'power source for driving said means,

a rear reel carrier unit having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier unit including ground engaging support means and reel supporting means for rotatably mounting a flexible member reel thereon,

steering means between said front and rear units,-

a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit and positioned between said front and rear units,

said plow assembly also including a vibratory plow having a generally vertically extending blade for forming a slit in the ground for receiving the flexible member, said blade located adjacent said reel whereby the flexible member is adapted to be directed from said reel carrier into the slit.

2. A cable laying vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said plow boom is pivotally attached to said front unit for pivotal movement relative thereto about a vertical axis, and further including second steering means between said plow assembly and said front unit for steering said plow assembly independently of said front and rear units.

3. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said carrier includes an arched, rearwardly extending frame which has a front portion that extends generally upwardly and a rear portion that extends generally downwardly, and said plow assembly is located beneath said arched frame.

4. The vehicle described in claim 3 including power means connected to said tractive power unit and also having a connection with said assembly for bodily raising said plow assembly clear of the ground.

5. The vehicle according to claim 3 wherein said connection includes a vertical one-way stop to permit said assembly to freely move vertically relative to said power unit during flexible member laying operation.

6. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said carrier rear portion has a pair of transversely spaced apart legs with an unobstructed space therebetween for the movement of a reel therethrough.

7. The vehicle set forth in claim 6 including a reel supporting frame shiftably mounted on said carrier, means on said supporting frame for rotatably supporting a reel thereon, and means for shifting said frame between a lower reel receiving position and an upper operative position in which said reel can dispense a flexible member therefrom, said frame being swingable in said unobstructed space between said legs.

8. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein said plow assembly includes a tamping wheel frame pivotally mounted thereon for generally vertical movement, and tamping wheel means rotatably mounted on said tamping wheel frame and located behind said blade for restoring the earth cut by said blade.

9. An articulated frame vehicle for continuously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove, said vehicle comprising,

a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means,

a rear reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end-having ground engagingsupport means, said carrier also having reel supporting means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon,

a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit and about a generally vertical axis whereby said boom can swing transversely relative to said power unit and said carrier, said plow assembly also including a vibratory plow having a generally downwardly extending blade for forming a slit in the ground, shaker means on said plow assembly for vertically reciprocating said blade to facilitate its cutting through the ground, said plow assembly having chute means for the passage of said flexible member therethrough and into the ground, said chute means arranged adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from said reel and directly into said chute means without appreciable bending of the flexible means,

power means for pivoting said plow relative to said boom, and

second power means for pivotally swinging said boom relative to said tractive vehicle whereby said plow can be steered independently of said boom and said boom can be swung independently and transversely of said power unit.

10. An articulated frame vehicle for continuously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove, said vehicle comprising,

a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means,

a rear reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end having ground engaging support means;

said reel carrier including a reel frame pivotally mounted for swinging between (i) a lower, reel loading position and (2) an upper, operative position for laying out said flexible member from a reel carried on said frame; said frame having releasable means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon,

a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit, said plow assembly having a vertical plow adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from said reel and directly into said plow without appreciable bending of the flexible means.

11. The vehicle described in claim 10 further characterized in that said plow assembly includes shaker means for vertically vibrating said blade, said boom is pivotally connected about a vertical axis with said power unit, and including power means for swinging said boom and plow assembly transversely of said power unit.

12. The vehicle set forth in claim 11 including second power means for pivoting said plow relative to said boom for independent steering of said plow.

13. An articulated frame vehicle for continuously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove,-said vehicle comprising,

a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means,

a rear reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse'swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end having ground engaging support means;

said reel carrier including a reel frame pivotally mounted for swinging between (1) a lower, reel loading position and (2) an upper, operative position for laying out said flexible member from a reel carried on said frame; said frame having releasable means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon, plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit, said plow assembly having a vertical plow adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from said reel and directly into said plow without appreciable bending of the flexible means; said plow assembly also including shaker means for vertically vibrating said blade, said boom pivotally connected about a vertical axis with said power unit, and power means for swinging said boom and plow assembly transversely of said power unit; said boom having a vertical lost motion connection with said power unit and a pivotal connection therewith about a generally horizontal axis, and additional power means connected with said power unit and said lost motion connection whereby said boom and plow assembly can move vertically independently of said power unit when burying a flexible member and then said additional power means can bodily raise said boom and plow assembly.

14. An articulated frame vehicle for continously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove, said vehicle comprising,

a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means, i

a reer reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached abbout a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end having ground engaging support means;

said rear carrier including a reel frame pivotally mounted for swinging between (1) a lower, reel loading position and (2) an upper, operative position for laying out said flexible member from a reel carried on said frame; said frame having releasable means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon,

a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit, said plow assembly having a vertical plow adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from saidsreel and directly into said plow without appreciable bending of the flexible means;

said plow assembly including shaker means for vertically vibrating said blade, said boom pivotally connected about a vertical axis with said power unit, and'power means for swinging said boom and plow assembly transversely of said power unit; second power means for pivoting said plow relative to said boom for independent steering of said plow; said boom having a vertical lost motion connection with said power unit and a pivotal connection therewith about a generally horizontal axis, and third power means connected with said power unit and said lost boomand plow assembly. 

1. A cable laying vehicle for laying a flexible member underground and comprising, a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means, a rear reel carrier unit having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier unit including grounD engaging support means and reel supporting means for rotatably mounting a flexible member reel thereon, steering means between said front and rear units, a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit and positioned between said front and rear units, said plow assembly also including a vibratory plow having a generally vertically extending blade for forming a slit in the ground for receiving the flexible member, said blade located adjacent said reel whereby the flexible member is adapted to be directed from said reel carrier into the slit.
 2. A cable laying vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said plow boom is pivotally attached to said front unit for pivotal movement relative thereto about a vertical axis, and further including second steering means between said plow assembly and said front unit for steering said plow assembly independently of said front and rear units.
 3. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said carrier includes an arched, rearwardly extending frame which has a front portion that extends generally upwardly and a rear portion that extends generally downwardly, and said plow assembly is located beneath said arched frame.
 4. The vehicle described in claim 3 including power means connected to said tractive power unit and also having a connection with said assembly for bodily raising said plow assembly clear of the ground.
 5. The vehicle according to claim 3 wherein said connection includes a vertical one-way stop to permit said assembly to freely move vertically relative to said power unit during flexible member laying operation.
 6. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said carrier rear portion has a pair of transversely spaced apart legs with an unobstructed space therebetween for the movement of a reel therethrough.
 7. The vehicle set forth in claim 6 including a reel supporting frame shiftably mounted on said carrier, means on said supporting frame for rotatably supporting a reel thereon, and means for shifting said frame between a lower reel receiving position and an upper operative position in which said reel can dispense a flexible member therefrom, said frame being swingable in said unobstructed space between said legs.
 8. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein said plow assembly includes a tamping wheel frame pivotally mounted thereon for generally vertical movement, and tamping wheel means rotatably mounted on said tamping wheel frame and located behind said blade for restoring the earth cut by said blade.
 9. An articulated frame vehicle for continuously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove, said vehicle comprising, a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means, a rear reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end having ground engaging support means, said carrier also having reel supporting means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon, a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit and about a generally vertical axis whereby said boom can swing transversely relative to said power unit and said carrier, said plow assembly also including a vibratory plow having a generally downwardly extending blade for forming a slit in the ground, shaker means on said plow assembly for vertically reciprocating said blade to facilitate its cutting through the ground, said plow assembly having chute means for the passage of said flexible member therethrough and into the ground, said chute means arranged adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from said reel and directly into said chute means without appreciable bending of the flexible means, power means for pivoting said plOw relative to said boom, and second power means for pivotally swinging said boom relative to said tractive vehicle whereby said plow can be steered independently of said boom and said boom can be swung independently and transversely of said power unit.
 10. An articulated frame vehicle for continuously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove, said vehicle comprising, a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means, a rear reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end having ground engaging support means; said reel carrier including a reel frame pivotally mounted for swinging between (1) a lower, reel loading position and (2) an upper, operative position for laying out said flexible member from a reel carried on said frame; said frame having releasable means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon, a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit, said plow assembly having a vertical plow adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from said reel and directly into said plow without appreciable bending of the flexible means.
 11. The vehicle described in claim 10 further characterized in that said plow assembly includes shaker means for vertically vibrating said blade, said boom is pivotally connected about a vertical axis with said power unit, and including power means for swinging said boom and plow assembly transversely of said power unit.
 12. The vehicle set forth in claim 11 including second power means for pivoting said plow relative to said boom for independent steering of said plow.
 13. An articulated frame vehicle for continuously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove, said vehicle comprising, a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source for driving said means, a rear reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached about a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end having ground engaging support means; said reel carrier including a reel frame pivotally mounted for swinging between (1) a lower, reel loading position and (2) an upper, operative position for laying out said flexible member from a reel carried on said frame; said frame having releasable means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon, a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit, said plow assembly having a vertical plow adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from said reel and directly into said plow without appreciable bending of the flexible means; said plow assembly also including shaker means for vertically vibrating said blade, said boom pivotally connected about a vertical axis with said power unit, and power means for swinging said boom and plow assembly transversely of said power unit; said boom having a vertical lost motion connection with said power unit and a pivotal connection therewith about a generally horizontal axis, and additional power means connected with said power unit and said lost motion connection whereby said boom and plow assembly can move vertically independently of said power unit when burying a flexible member and then said additional power means can bodily raise said boom and plow assembly.
 14. An articulated frame vehicle for continously forming a slit in the ground, laying a flexible member therein, and restoring the earth thereabove, said vehicle comprising, a front tractive power unit having a ground engaging traction means and a power source fOr driving said means, a reer reel carrier having a front end pivotally attached abbout a generally vertical axis to said power unit for transverse swinging relative thereto, said carrier including a rear end having ground engaging support means; said rear carrier including a reel frame pivotally mounted for swinging between (1) a lower, reel loading position and (2) an upper, operative position for laying out said flexible member from a reel carried on said frame; said frame having releasable means for rotatably mounting a reel thereon, a plow assembly having a boom attached at its front end to said power unit, said plow assembly having a vertical plow adjacent said reel and generally at the forward side thereof, whereby said flexible means is taken generally tangentially from said reel and directly into said plow without appreciable bending of the flexible means; said plow assembly including shaker means for vertically vibrating said blade, said boom pivotally connected about a vertical axis with said power unit, and power means for swinging said boom and plow assembly transversely of said power unit; second power means for pivoting said plow relative to said boom for independent steering of said plow; said boom having a vertical lost motion connection with said power unit and a pivotal connection therewith about a generally horizontal axis, and third power means connected with said power unit and said lost motion connection whereby said boom and plow assembly can move vertically independently of said power unit when burying a flexible member and then said third power means can bodily raise said boom and plow assembly. 